In only its third year, the Chris Lopez Classic is already garnering a reputation as a fun and challenging race.
Co-chair Stacey Willison said that as of Thursday afternoon the contest has already attracted 139 runners, a higher figure compared to this time last year.
In 2012, more than 170 runners took part in the event, which goes through Upper Greenhorn Park.
“Everything is coming together pretty good," Willison said. She believes there should be a number of same-day sign-ups and hopes there will be even more runners taking part this year.
In 2009, Lopez, a cross country runner at Yreka High School, passed away a few days after collapsing at a league cross country meet in Redding.
His mother, Willison, along with Yreka High cross country coach Pam Borg are co-chairs of the race.
Funds raised go to a scholarship fund that goes to high school runners from throughout Siskiyou County.
Runners can pick up their packets prior to the race at Dosomthin Athletics at 614 S. Main Street, Yreka from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30, or 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday
, or prior to their race. Race day registration begins at 7:30am and will continue until the races start.
The 1-mile begins at 8:30 and costs $15 to enter; the 5K/10K races start at 9 a.m. and costs $25 to enter. The 1-mile and the 5K are walker-friendly, as walkers, joggers and runners of all levels are welcome to participate. For registration forms and more information, go to www.chrislopezclassic.org.
Willison said that the 10-K race has earned a reputation as a tough event with a lot of uphill climbing that gives runners a challenge.
“The race was designed to be difficult because he was an adventurous and tough runner,” Willison said.
Willison said that “Cindy Summers is deejaying the event, and there is a massage tent with free massages, tie-dye shirts for sale, food, raffle drawing, goodie bags for all our runners, and everyone gets a wooden medal with our CLC logo on it. “
Willison said that “the majority of the race is planned all around Chris. All the trails are where he practiced or race upon. The overall medals are cut from steal in the pattern of the tree from West Valley and painted royal blue, his favorite color. I took a picture of Chris in front of that tree just a year before he collapsed at the very same track. The wooden medals that are distributed to every runner have the CLC logo on it. The shadow on the water in the logo is an actual silhouette of him when he was running.”
Willison said that helping put on the race has been part of her ongoing grieving process in losing her son.
“Christopher's dreams were larger than life itself,” she said. “After losing him, it simply felt natural to complete what he started in every way I could.”
“Every year, we build a better reputation and we bring in new runners,” Willison added. “It is such an honor to have all these participants there in his memory. Words alone cannot express how that makes me feel as his mom. It is an emotion held inside that goes without specific definition. Seeing those large scholarships handed out to deserving graduates and watching the race shirts being worn all around town, let's me know my mission was accomplished. But there isn't a moment that goes by that I wish he was still here to make his own remarkable dreams come true.”